TerraPower, a leading nuclear power company, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sabey Data Centers (SDC) to explore the deployment of TerraPower’s innovative Natrium microreactors in data center operations. This collaboration aims to address the growing energy demands of data centers, especially in the Rocky Mountain region and Texas.
What is the Natrium Microreactor?
The Natrium microreactor, developed by TerraPower, is a sodium-cooled fast reactor that generates 345MW of electricity. It incorporates an integrated energy storage system, which enhances its output capacity to 500MW for over five and a half hours. This ability to store and release energy makes the Natrium reactor an ideal solution for powering data centers, which require a reliable and flexible energy source. Furthermore, the reactor’s design allows for easy integration with renewable energy sources.
Chris Levesque, TerraPower’s President and CEO, emphasized that the collaboration with Sabey Data Centers aligns with TerraPower’s commitment to providing clean, dependable, and adaptable power solutions to meet the surging energy demands of the data center sector.
Sabey Data Centers: Expanding Clean Energy Solutions
Sabey Data Centers operates over four million square feet of data center space across the United States, with facilities in Quincy, Seattle, and East Wenatchee, Washington; New York City; Austin, Texas; and Ashburn, Virginia. Through its partnership with TerraPower, Sabey aims to integrate advanced nuclear power technologies into its operations, supporting the transition to more sustainable energy sources while ensuring reliable power for its data center clients.
Tim Mirick, President of Sabey Data Centers, highlighted that the partnership represents a significant step towards adopting innovative energy technologies to meet the evolving power needs of data centers.
First Natrium Plant Development and Future Plans
The first Natrium plant, which will serve as a model for future deployments, is currently under development through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). This public-private partnership aims to bring the first commercial, utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant online by 2030. The plant will play a key role in demonstrating the viability of microreactors as a clean, scalable energy solution for industries like data centers.
The project has already reached significant milestones, with contracts awarded for the construction of the reactor enclosure system for the first Natrium plant. The successful completion of this project could pave the way for more widespread adoption of advanced nuclear technologies in sectors that require substantial, reliable power.
The Rise of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in Data Centers
This collaboration between TerraPower and Sabey Data Centers marks the first agreement between TerraPower and a data center developer, but it follows a broader trend of increasing interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) within the data center industry. Over the past year, several companies have announced partnerships to explore SMR technologies for data center operations.
For instance, Deep Fission, an SMR developer, has teamed up with Endeavour Energy to develop and deploy 2GW of capacity across Endeavour’s global data center portfolio. Similarly, Amazon Web Services (AWS) signed agreements with Energy Northwest, X-Energy, and Dominion Virginia to deploy more than 600MW of power in Washington and Virginia. Google has also entered into a corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from Karios Power, with deployment expected in 2030.
Why Nuclear Energy is Gaining Traction in Data Centers
Data centers are major consumers of energy, and as their demand for computing power continues to grow, so does the need for a consistent and sustainable energy supply. The transition to renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, has made great strides, but these sources are intermittent and require energy storage solutions. Nuclear energy, particularly in the form of microreactors like Natrium, provides a continuous, on-demand power source, making it a promising solution for powering data centers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the Natrium microreactor?
The Natrium microreactor is a sodium-cooled fast reactor that generates 345MW of electricity, with an integrated energy storage system that can boost its output to 500MW for over five hours.
2. How will TerraPower and Sabey Data Centers collaborate?
The two companies will explore the feasibility of deploying Natrium microreactors at Sabey’s data center locations, particularly in the Rocky Mountain region and Texas, to meet growing energy demands.
3. When will the first Natrium plant be operational?
The first Natrium plant is expected to be operational by 2030, marking a significant milestone in the development of advanced nuclear power technologies in the U.S.
4. Why are data centers exploring nuclear power?
Data centers require a reliable and sustainable energy source. Nuclear microreactors, like the Natrium, offer consistent, on-demand power, making them an attractive option for powering energy-intensive data center operations.
5. What other companies are exploring nuclear energy for data centers?
In addition to Sabey and TerraPower, companies like AWS, Google, and Deep Fission have entered agreements to explore nuclear energy solutions for data centers.
